Don’t Let Post-Holiday Returns Overwhelm Your Team — Here’s Your 10-Point Readiness Checklist

The rush may be over, but the real test for your warehouse is just beginning: returns season.

Every January, docks back up, boxes pile high, and teams scramble to make sense of what’s coming back and why. It’s a familiar scene for most operations: exhausted staff, inconsistent workflows, and a mountain of mystery items waiting for decisions.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In our recent Code Chat webinar, VP of Operations Amy Dean and Director of Presales & Implementation Tony Baldwin broke down how smart operations are using modern WMS tools to handle returns like pros, not just surviving the season, but turning it into a strategic advantage.

What the Webinar Uncovered

The challenge: Post-holiday returns expose every inefficiency hiding in your process from manual steps, inconsistent rules, and missing visibility.

The insight: A modern WMS doesn’t just process returns; it learns from them, helping you uncover root causes and opportunities for improvement.

The opportunity: The best teams are using this data to reduce future returns, recover more inventory, and build customer loyalty through faster, cleaner processes.

Watch the full Webinar to hear Amy and Tony unpack these strategies in detail. In Code Chat: Post-Holiday Returns, Amy and Tony share real-world examples of how high-performing warehouses are using WMS automation, data insights, and smarter workflows to master returns season.

Your Post-Holiday Returns Readiness Checklist

Here’s your quick, practical tool to get your warehouse ready before the next wave hits.

Returns Process Checklist:

• Standardized workflows for common return types
• Segment workflows for 2nd and 3rd most common return types
• Automated triggers that move items to the next step
• Scanning + labeling to lock in accuracy from the dock
• Clear disposition rules (restock, rework, quarantine, scrap)
• Structured “return reason” tracking for root-cause analysis
• Identify specific rules for certain priority clients
• Reporting that reveals trends and problem areas
• Trained staff ready for the post-peak surge
• Consistent customer communication for returns and refunds
• Outlets for rework, refurbishment, or donation
• Plan to review and act on return data post-season

Pro tip: Bring this checklist to your next team meeting. It’s an easy way to spot process gaps before the returns rush hits.

The Bottom Line

• Faster processing protects profit margins.
• Smarter data reduces future returns.
• A better returns experience builds long-term loyalty.

Returns don’t have to be a post-peak headache; with the right workflows and visibility, they can actually drive your business forward.